End to end automation of application deployment

ABSTRACT

Automatic deployment of an information technology (TT) system instance having hardware and software components. An application model of the software components is generated based on use cases and is associated with functional and non-functional requirements. An infrastructure model of the hardware components is generated based on the application model. The same software component modeling language represents both the application and infrastructure models. A markup language computer file is generated to include a design of the IT system instance and instructions for accessing library-stored assets that specify the hardware and software components. The computer file is exported to a deployment tool for automatic deployment of the IT system instance based on carrying out the instructions. In one embodiment, the impact of a proposed change is identified and managed in real time prior to a deployment of the proposed change.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a data processing method and system forautomating application deployment, and more particularly to a systemmodeling technique that exports output from application modeling andinfrastructure modeling to an application deployment tool.

BACKGROUND

Application developers and application system integrators often usesoftware-based tools to design the application architecture to solve abusiness need. The business, system, and component functional andnon-functional requirements are identified to facilitate the design.Subsequently, a software-based modeling tool is used to develop usecases, system context diagrams, component models, deployment models anddata flow diagrams. Code is then written (or a software package ispurchased) and a tool is used as a repository to hold an “applicationbundle” for deployment. An infrastructure information technology (TT)architect then designs the physical environment to host the applicationbundle. The infrastructure IT architect repeats a large amount of thepreviously captured information which may or may not be made availableto them, such as the business, system, and component functional andnon-functional requirements. The same modeling tools are then used todevelop a second set of use cases, system context diagrams, componentmodels, deployment models and data flow diagrams, where an ITinfrastructure design is produced that captures the “run timeenvironment” for the application and the infrastructure (i.e., hardware,operating system and middleware) bundle. A systems engineer builds therun time environment (i.e., install and configure switches, servers,operating systems, etc.) and then an applications engineer installs theapplication bundle. In known techniques for deploying an application,the respective design processes of the application developer and theinfrastructure IT architect are disjointed, resulting in an unacceptableamount of application and infrastructure defects, inflexible applicationcomponents and infrastructure building blocks, and significant costsrelated to lengthy infrastructure design times and infrastructure andapplication deployment times. Furthermore, the disjointedness betweenthe design processes of the application developer and the infrastructureIT architect makes it difficult to identify and manage the impact of achange in a requirement in real time prior to the phase of deploying anapplication. Thus, there exists a need to overcome at least one of thepreceding deficiencies and limitations of the related art.

BRIEF SUMMARY

First embodiments of the present invention provide acomputer-implemented method of automatically deploying an informationtechnology (IT) system instance having hardware and software componentsThe method comprises:

a computer system generating an application model of the softwarecomponents based on use cases associated with a plurality ofrequirements that includes functional and non-functional requirements ofthe IT system instance, wherein the generating the application modelincludes representing the software components in a software componentmodeling language;

the computer system generating an infrastructure model based on theapplication model, wherein the generating the infrastructure modelincludes representing the hardware components in the software componentmodeling language;

the computer system generating a computer file in a markup language,wherein the computer file includes a design of the IT system instance,and further includes first instructions for accessing first assetsstored in an infrastructure runtime source library and secondinstructions for accessing second assets stored in a software sourcelibrary, and wherein the first assets specify the hardware componentsand the second assets specify the software components; and

the computer system exporting the computer file in the markup languageto a deployment tool, wherein a result of the exporting the computerfile to the deployment tool is an automatic deployment of the IT systeminstance based on carrying out the first and second instructionsincluded in the computer file to access the first and second assetsstored in the infrastructure runtime source library and the softwaresource library, respectively.

Second embodiments of the present invention provide acomputer-implemented method of modeling a proposed change to aninformation technology (IT) system instance prior to deploying the ITsystem instance having the proposed change. The method comprises:

subsequent to an identification of a first system model of the IT systeminstance as a first baseline of the IT system instance and a subsequentidentification by a configuration management system of a first changedeployed in the IT system instance, the computer system receiving anindication of the first change exported from the configurationmanagement system;

subsequent to receiving the indication of the first change deployed inthe IT system instance, the computer system updating the first systemmodel of the IT system instance to a second system model that includesthe first change and exporting a computer file in a markup language tothe configuration management system, wherein the computer file includesthe second system model that includes the first change, and wherein aresult of the exporting the computer file is an identification of thesecond system model as an updated baseline of the IT system instance bythe configuration management system; and

subsequent to exporting the computer file that includes the secondsystem model that includes the first change, the computer systemreceiving and modeling the proposed change to the IT system instanceprior to a deployment of the IT system instance having the proposedchange, wherein the modeling the proposed change is based on the updatedbaseline of the IT system instance rather than the first baseline of theIT system instance.

Corresponding to the above-summarized methods, program products andprocesses for supporting computing infrastructure where the processprovides at least one support service are also described and claimedherein.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a technique for automatingapplication or system deployment that creates an end to end traceabilitymatrix that maps business, system and component functional andnon-functional requirements to application and infrastructure models,thereby ensuring that at either the application or infrastructuremodeling phase, the impact of a change in a requirement may beidentified and managed in real time, rather than waiting for thedeployment phase. Further, the models used by an application developerteam may be leveraged as direct input into the infrastructure design,thereby reducing infrastructure design times, especially if predefinedinfrastructure building blocks are utilized (e.g., predefined serverconfigurations). Still further, infrastructure and applicationdeployment times are reduced by embodiments described herein. Furtheryet, embodiments of the present invention may reduce application andinfrastructure defects during testing and deployment phases, andimplementation project costs may be reduced. Moreover, infrastructurebuilding blocks may be provided as reusable assets stored in a library,thereby providing a standardized approach to developing infrastructuredesigns that reduces the development time and costs of producinginfrastructure solutions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for automating applicationdeployment, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process for automating applicationdeployment, where the process is implemented by the system of FIG. 1, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for determining an impact of aproposed change to a system prior to automatically deploying theproposed change by the process of FIG. 2, where the process isimplemented by the system of FIG. 1, in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a deployment model used in the process of FIG.2, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of a traceability diagram for tracing a design ofan application being deployed in the process of FIG. 2 back to businessrequirements, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a computer system included in the system ofFIG. 1 and that implements the process of FIG. 2, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 1. Overview

Using a service-oriented architecture (SOA) approach to applicationdevelopment and systems integration in the software space allows for thegeneration of executable code into a software repository that cansubsequently be deployed to a target. Embodiments of the presentinvention extend the aforementioned SOA approach to infrastructuredesign. A software bundle (a.k.a. application bundle; i.e., thesoftware-based application or system that is to be deployed to satisfybusiness requirements) and an infrastructure stack (i.e., the hardwarecomponents that are required to run the application or system to bedeployed) may be defined in the same format, which can be understood byan automated deployment tool. Thus, an application or a complete systemmay be modeled and deployed, end to end automatically, withoutintervening steps that are manually performed by one or more humans.

The end to end automation of application deployment links all phases inthe design of the application and the subsequent deployment of theapplication to business requirements, thereby treating the software andinfrastructure design phases of application deployment as a single,integrated system (rather than as isolated phases). Embodiments of thepresent invention may create a complete system model that integratesapplication and infrastructure models, where the system model isexported to an automated deployment tool as a deployable system. Usecase, system context and deployment models may be generated andconverted into defined components of the system model.

2. System for Automating Application Deployment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for automating applicationdeployment, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.System 100 includes a computer system 102 that receives business,system, and component functional and non-functional requirements 104that need to be satisfied by an information technology (IT) systeminstance that is to be modeled and deployed. As used herein, an ITsystem instance is defined as a system that satisfies functional andnon-functional requirements, and that includes one or more softwarecomponents of at least one software application and one or more hardwarecomponents that are required to run the software application(s).

It should be noted that systems and processes described herein thatdeploy an IT system instance have alternate embodiments in which the ITsystem instance may be replaced with an application (a.k.a. softwareapplication), where the referenced hardware components of the IT systeminstance include hardware that is necessary to run the application.Similarly, systems and processes described herein that deploy anapplication have alternate embodiments in which the application may bereplaced with an IT system instance.

Computer system 102 includes a use case generator 106, an applicationmodel generator 108, an infrastructure model generator 110, and adeployable object generator 112. Use case generator 106 develops usecases that are included in the design of an application bundle (a.k.a.software bundle) of the IT system instance that is going to be deployed.Application model generator 108 is a modeling tool that uses the usecases developed by generator 106, along with system context diagrams,component models, deployment models, and data flow diagrams to model theapplication bundle. The model of the application bundle is expressed asoftware component modeling language. In one embodiment, the softwarecomponent modeling language is the Unified Modeling Language (UML) 2.x,such as UML 2.0. The output of application model generator 108 is usedas input to infrastructure model generator 110, which develops a modelof the infrastructure that is required to run the software in theaforementioned application bundle. The model of the infrastructureincludes a representation of the run time environment (a.k.a. run timepattern) needed to host the application bundle. The run time environmentincludes a specification of the physical environment required to hostthe application bundle (e.g., switches, server computers, and otherhardware) and may include other infrastructure components such as anoperating system and middleware. The model of the infrastructure isexpressed in the same software component modeling language that is usedto express the model of the application bundle. Hereinafter, the modelof the application bundle is simply referred to as “application model”and the model of the infrastructure is simply referred to as“infrastructure model.”

System 100 also includes a software source library 114 and aninfrastructure run time source library 116. Deployable object generator112 builds a computer file in a markup language, where the computer fileincludes a deployable object 118 that specifies the application bundleand the run time pattern. In one embodiment, the markup language isExtensible Markup Language (XML). The application bundle is a list ofsoftware that is going to be deployed, a description of how the softwareis going to be deployed, and where the software is going to be deployed.The run time pattern identifies the hardware on which the softwareidentified by the application bundle is to be implemented and specifiesthe configuration of the hardware. Effectively, the run time pattern isan infrastructure build sheet.

To build the computer file, deployable object generator 112 searcheslibrary 114 for previously stored software components that are includedin the application bundle and retrieves any software components found inthe search. A previously stored software component may be code writtenor a software package purchased for an application bundle. Similarly,deployable object generator 112 searches library 116 for previouslystored configuration information about infrastructure components thatare included in the infrastructure model, and retrieves anyconfiguration information found in the search. Computer system 102 mayalso deposit software components into software source library 114 andinfrastructure components into infrastructure run time source library116 as reusable assets that a deployment of any other IT system instanceor application may use to create a deployable object 118.

The application bundle and the run time pattern may be identified in asingle repository or in two data repositories. If two repositories areused, then the repository software is the same for both repositories.For example, the repository software may be IBM® Rational® Asset Manageror IBM® Rational® ClearCase®, which are software products that areoffered by International Business Machines located in Armonk, N.Y.

Computer system 102 sends deployable object 118 to an automateddeployment tool 120. In response to receiving the deployable object 118,deployment tool 120 automatically deploys the IT system instance basedon the application bundle and the run time pattern in the receiveddeployable object.

Computer system 102 optionally sends deployable object 118 as input to aconfiguration management system 122, which uses the deployable object todefine a baseline of configurable items for the IT system instance.

The functionality of the components of system 100 is further discussedbelow relative to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

3. Process for Automating Application Deployment

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process for automating applicationdeployment, where the process is implemented by the system of FIG. 1, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention. The process ofautomating application deployment begins at step 200. In step 202,computer system 102 (see FIG. 1) receives and publishes requirements 104(see FIG. 1). In step 204, use case generator 106 (see FIG. 1) generatesuse cases for an application model. In step 206, application modelgenerator 108 (see FIG. 1) generates the application model based on theuse cases generated in step 204. The application model generated in step206 includes software components of an application bundle expressed in asoftware component modeling language such as UML 2.x.

Using the output of step 206 as input, infrastructure model generator110 (see FIG. 1) generates an infrastructure model in step 208. Theinfrastructure model generated in step 208 is expressed in the samesoftware component modeling language that is used to express theapplication model in step 206. The infrastructure model includes a runtime pattern that includes configuration information aboutinfrastructure components (i.e., components of the infrastructure neededby the application being deployed).

In step 210, a modeling tool running in computer system 102 (see FIG. 1)generates a system model. The generated system model includes acomponent design, which comprises the software components of theapplication bundle included in the application model generated in step206. The system model generated in step 210 also includes a run timepattern that includes configuration information about the hardware andother infrastructure components of the infrastructure model generated instep 208.

In step 212, deployable object generator 112 (see FIG. 1) initiates abuilding of a run time pattern in deployable object 118 (see FIG. 1).Step 212 also includes computer system 102 checking in to theinfrastructure run time source library 116 to determine whether library116 has stored any configuration information of the hardware componentsof the infrastructure model as reusable assets. If any of theconfiguration information for the hardware components of theinfrastructure model are included in library 116, the computer system102 (see FIG. 1) retrieves the configuration information for thehardware components from library 116 and deployable object generator 112(see FIG. 1) adds the retrieved configuration information to the runtime pattern being built in deployable object 118 (see FIG. 1).

In step 216, deployable object generator 112 (see FIG. 1) initiates abuilding of an application bundle in deployable object 118 (see FIG. 1).Step 216 also includes computer system 102 checking in to the softwaresource library 114 to determine whether library 114 has stored any ofthe software components of the application model as reusable assets. Ifany of the software components of the application model are stored inlibrary 114, the computer system 102 (see FIG. 1) retrieves the softwarecomponents from library 114 and the deployable object generator 112 (seeFIG. 1) adds the retrieved software component(s) to the applicationbundle being built in deployable object 118 (see FIG. 1).

In step 220, computer system 102 (see FIG. 1) sends deployable object118 (see FIG. 1) to deployment tool 120 (see FIG. 1). In response toreceiving the deployable object, the deployment tool automaticallydeploys the application. In step 222, the process of automatingapplication deployment ends.

In one embodiment, the steps 206, 208, 210, 212, 216 and 220 areperformed automatically and without intervening steps manually performedby one or more humans.

Again, in another embodiment, the deployment of the applicationdescribed in the process of FIG. 2 is replaced with the deployment of anIT system instance.

4. Determining Impact of Proposed Change Prior to Deployment

FIGS. 3A-3B depict a flowchart of a process for determining an impact ofa proposed change to a system prior to automatically deploying theproposed change by the process of FIG. 2, where the process isimplemented by the system of FIG. 1, in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. The process for determining an impact of aproposed change to an IT system instance begins at step 300 in FIG. 3A.In step 302, the process of FIG. 2 deploys an IT system instance basedon a first system model modeled by a modeling tool running on computersystem 102 (see FIG. 1). In step 304, the computer system 102 (seeFIG. 1) exports the first system model to configuration managementsystem 122 (see FIG. 1).

In step 306, configuration management system 122 (see FIG. 1) identifiesthe first system model as a first baseline of the IT system instance. Instep 308, configuration management system 122 (see FIG. 1) detects afirst change to the IT system instance and exports the first change tothe modeling tool. In step 310, the modeling tool receives the exportedfirst change and updates the first system model to a second system modelthat includes the first change, where the second system model isdifferent from the first system model.

In step 312, the process of FIG. 2 re-deploys the IT system instancebased on the second system model. That is, the re-deployed IT systeminstance includes the first change. In step 314, the computer system 102(see FIG. 1) exports the second system model to configuration managementsystem 122 (see FIG. 1). In step 316, configuration management system122 (see FIG. 1) identifies the second system model as an updatedbaseline of the IT system instance. The process of determining theimpact of a proposed change to an IT system instance continues in FIG.3B.

In step 318 in FIG. 3B, the modeling tool receives a proposed change tothe IT system instance, where the proposed change is different from thefirst change detected in step 308 (see FIG. 3A). In step 320, themodeling tool generates an updated system model that includes theproposed change received in step 318. The updated system model generatedin step 320 is based on the updated baseline identified in step 316 (seeFIG. 3A) rather than on the first baseline identified in step 306 (seeFIG. 3A). The updated system model is different from the first andsecond system models on which the deployments in step 302 (see FIG. 3A)and step 312 (see FIG. 3A), respectively, are based.

In step 322, the computer system 102 (see FIG. 1) determines a costand/or another effect of re-deploying the IT system instance based onthe updated system model that includes the proposed change and isgenerated in step 320. That is, step 322 determines an impact of theproposed change.

Inquiry step 324 includes determining whether to re-deploy the IT systeminstance based on a comparison of the impact determined in step 322 topredefined criteria. Step 324 may be performed manually or automaticallyby computer system 102 (see FIG. 1). If the comparison of the impact ofthe proposed change to the predefined criteria determines that the ITsystem instance is to be re-deployed, then the Yes branch of step 322 isfollowed and step 326 is performed. In step 326, the IT system instanceis re-deployed based on the updated system model that includes theproposed change. The IT system instance may be re-deployed based on theupdated system model by using steps 212, 216 and 220 of FIG. 2 to builddeployable object 118 (see FIG. 1) based on the hardware and softwarecomponents represented in the updated system model. Following step 326,the process of determining the impact of the proposed change to the ITsystem instance ends at step 328.

Returning to step 324, if the comparison of the impact of the proposedchange to the predefined criteria determines that the IT system instanceis not to be re-deployed, then in step 330, the IT system instance isnot re-deployed based on the updated system model generated in step 320,and the process of determining the impact of the proposed change to theIT system instance ends at step 328.

5. UML-Based Infrastructure Models

This section describes a metamodel that defines UML model elements thatallows UML modeling techniques to design an infrastructure model (a.k.a.deployment model) in the same software component modeling language(i.e., UML) that is used to design the corresponding application model.The result of step 208 (see FIG. 2) may express the infrastructure modelwith the UML model elements described in this section. Generating aUML-based infrastructure model provides a consistent approach fordeveloping a solution design (i.e., design of an IT system instance),allows for re-use of solution designs, and is a first step to generatingsystem build guides that are used as input to automated build systemssuch as IBM® Tivoli® Provisioning Manager offered by InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation.

5.1 UML Modeling

A model is defined as a representation of a system or application. A UMLmodel is a model that uses a Unified Modeling Language notation tographically represent a system at various levels of abstraction.

Models may represent systems at different levels of detail. Some modelsdescribe a system from a higher, more abstract level, while other modelsprovide greater detail. UML models include model elements, such asactors, use cases, classes, and packages, and one or more diagrams thatshow a specific perspective of a system. A model may also include other,more detailed models.

IT Architects may use UML models to perform the following actions:

Visually represent a system that will be built

Communicate a vision of a system to customers and colleagues

Develop and test system architecture

Use the UML diagrams to direct code generation

The use of UML models by IT Architects to develop infrastructure modelsallow the development of the infrastructure run time source library 116(see FIG. 1), which is leveraged to provide a standard approach todeveloping solution designs for clients. This UML model-based approachto developing infrastructure models reduces the development time andcost for producing infrastructure solutions.

In the case of an Infrastructure IT Architect, the code generation thatis directed by UML-based infrastructure models produce the instructionsand/or configuration files that are exported in an XML format indeployable object 118 (see FIG. 1) and used as input to an automationsystem (e.g., deployment tool 120 in FIG. 1) to implement theinfrastructure components of an application or system. For example, anXML file produced from a UML-based infrastructure model may be inputinto IBM® Tivoli® Provisioning Manager (TPM), providing TPM with theconfiguration information and run instructions that TPM needs toprovision a new server onto a network.

5.2 Tooling

To generate the infrastructure model in embodiments of the presentinvention, an IT Architect may use, for example, IBM® Rational® SoftwareModeler (RSM) if the full functionality of IBM® Rational® SoftwareArchitect (RSA) is not required. RSM and RSA are software productsoffered by International Business Machines Corporation. RSM provides anEclipse based workbench that allows IT Architects to produce common workproducts such as:

Use Case

System Context Diagram

Architecture Overview Diagram

Component Model

Deployment Model

RSM integrates with IBM® Rational® RequisitePro® and has plug-ins toenable linkages with iRAM, an internal shared IBM® Rational® AssetManager system, and a document generator to export UML models intotraditional Microsoft® Word format. IBM® Rational® RequisitePro® andiRAM are software products offered by International Business MachinesCorporation. Microsoft® Word is word processing software offered byMicrosoft Corporation located in Redmond, Wash.

RSA may be used, for example, by the Application Architect or Developerto provide the functional components for the end to end system. RSA mayalso be used by the IT Architect in place of RSM.

Rational® Asset Manager (RAM) may be used for capturing and publishingreusable assets. RAM has a direct plug-in to RSA and RSM, which allowsmodels to be published directly into repositories to enable the build-upof reference libraries, such as library 114 and 116 (see FIG. 1).

5.3 Notation

The following subsections describe the UML model elements (i.e., themetamodel) that are used to model an IT system instance, allowing forthe development of an infrastructure model.

5.3.1 Node

A Node is the modeling element used to represent the instantiation of aphysical device such as a server, switch or storage array. The Nodedescribes the physical entity being deployed to be managed within aninfrastructure model.

Using stereotypes within RSM, Nodes may also be representeddiagrammatically in a manner similar to the Microsoft® Visio® formatwith which IT Architects are familiar.

5.3.2 Artifact

There are two types of Artifact that is used in the infrastructuremodels generated by embodiments of the present invention. The first typeof Artifact is used to model hardware specifications for the physicaldevice that will be deployed. Examples of a hardware specificationArtifact is an <<artifact>> called IBM DS6000.

The second type of Artifact is used to represent a software package orcomponent that is to be installed on a physical device represented by aNode corresponding to the Artifact. Software such as DB2®, VeritasVolume Manager and WebSphere® Application Server are examples ofsoftware package Artifacts. DB2® and WebSphere® Application Server areoffered by International Business Machines Corporation. Veritas VolumeManager is a software product offered by Symantec Corporation located inMountain View, Calif.

Artifacts are manifest within a Node and appear as Attributes of theNode that the Artifacts have been associated with. In this way, a Nodemay have a number of hardware specifications and software packages“installed” thereon to make the Node the entity that is to be deployed.

5.3.3 Execution Environment

Execution Environments are used to model bundles of software packageArtifacts or operating systems. An example of an Execution Environmentis IBM® Management Tools offered by International Business MachinesCorporation, where there are a number of Artifacts that are groupedtogether as a bundled installation.

Within UML, an Execution Environment is actually a Node with a specificdescription. As a Node, an Execution Environment may be associated withArtifacts. Execution Environments are “nested” within a Node and, oncethere, then appear as Attributes of the parent Node. In the case of IBM®Management Tools, the <<executionEnvironment>> may consist of thesoftware <<artifacts>> IBM® Tivoli® Monitoring (ITM), IBM® Tivoli®Storage Manager (TSM) and Server Resource Manager (SRM). ITM, TSM andSRM are software products offered by International Business MachinesCorporation.

5.3.4 Deployment Specification

A Deployment Specification is used to model security zones or otherdeployment domains such as locations. Deployment Specifications may beused to model the “Application Tier” of a 3-tier architecture or may beused to bound a deployment location such as a Data Center,communications room or office space. Deployment Specifications may alsobe used to represent a clustered environment in which all of the Nodeswithin the Deployment Specification are part of the same cluster.

5.3.5 Attributes

As discussed in the subsection on Artifacts presented above, each UMLmodel element may be associated with one or more Attributes that areused to provide further configuration information for the associatedelement. The Attributes for a hardware specification Artifact may be,for example, the amount and type of memory installed, local disk, I/Oand CPU description, whereas for a software package Artifact, theAttributes may be, for instance, the version of the release or patchlevel of the software package.

When Artifacts are associated with a Node, the Artifacts are representedwithin the Node as attributes of that Node. Nested Nodes such as anExecution Environment are also represented as Attributes of the parentNode.

5.3.6 Connections

To model the connectivity between two Nodes, the “Communication Path”UML element is used. Details about the communication path and itsconfiguration are included in the Documentation section of theCommunication Path UML element. Communication protocol such as HypertextTransfer Protocol (HTTP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), etc.label the communications paths.

Association lines are used to link Artifacts to Nodes. Association linesshow that the Artifact is linked or a part of (manifest on) the Node.

5.3.7 Notation Example

FIG. 4 is an example of a deployment model used in the process of FIG.2, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Example 400includes a Deployment Specification 402 representing a Tier 1 Networkhaving a simple, single Node 404 representing a Web Server. The WebServer represented by Node 404 runs Apache HTTP, which is represented bya software package Artifact 406. Apache HTTP represented by Artifact 406runs on IBM x3950, which is represented by a hardware specificationArtifact 408. A Windows 2003 operating system (i.e., an ExecutionEnvironment) is located within the Web Server represented by Node 402.Example 400 also demonstrates the use of Attributes for Artifacts 406and 408 (e.g., Attributes 8 Gb RAM and 2.4 Ghz Quad Core for Artifact408).

5.4 Infrastructure Run Time Source Library

This subsection provides information on how a reference model isstructured and how the reference model is used to populate a systemmodel.

As models are developed, they may be harvested as reusable (reference)assets and published into an Asset Management tool such as the IBM®Rational® Asset Manager. Assets that are selected to be included for anenvironment may be uploaded into a Services Catalog to be included in aSelf Service Provisioning toolset such as the IBM® DynamicInfrastructure® Cloud.

5.5 Exporting a Model to XML

This section provides information on how to export a system model as anXML schema to be used as input to a build tool such as deployment tool120 (see FIG. 1) or to define a reference configuration withinconfiguration management system 122 (see FIG. 1).

UML 2.0 provides a direct mapping to XML via XML Metadata Interchange(XMI). Providing the modeling complies with UML 2.0, the system modelmay be exported and interpreted by any tooling with an XML interface.

6. Defect Management

Defect management of both the application bundle and the run timepattern may be tracked and change managed and the new baselinepublished. A scanning engine (not shown in FIG. 1) periodically scansthe deployed environments against the published baseline and trigger anapplication or infrastructure release management process.

The release management process engages a provisioning system to completethe release, scans to ensure compliance to the baseline, and reports anydefects or reports completion of the project.

7. Sample Traceability

FIG. 5 is an example of a traceability diagram for tracing a design ofan application being deployed in the process of FIG. 2 back to businessrequirements, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.The traceability diagram illustrates traceability between various typesof requirements that are maintained during a project lifecycle, and maybe used, for example, as part of a configuration document stored in anIBM® RequisitePro® database. The objective of the traceability is toreduce the number of defects found late in the development cycle for anapplication or IT system instance.

Customer Wants and Needs (WAN) 502 and Scope and Vision (SAV) 504 itemsare traced to a Business Requirements (BUS) item 506. WAN 502 are thecustomer-identified desirable characteristics of the system. SAV 504 arethe key corporate and business statements that describe a high-levelvision of the environment. BUS 506 captures key business requirements.BUS 506 is traced to a System Functional (SYSFR) item 508 representingthe system's functional conditions and capabilities, and a SystemNon-Functional (SYSNFR) item 510 representing the system'snon-functional conditions and capabilities that are not captured in theuse case model. There may be a many-to-many relationship between BUS 506and SYSFR 508, and between BUS 506 and SYSNFR 510, but usually therelationship is one business requirement to many system requirements.

SYSFR 508 and SYSNFR 510 are traced to either a Use Case (UC)requirement 514 or a Supplementary Requirement (not shown). There may bemany-to-many relationships between SYSFR 508 and UC 514 and betweenSYSNFR 510 and UC 514.

UC 514 captures all the system's functional requirements and is tracedback to SYSFR 508 and SYSNFR 510. Constraints (CONS) 516 identify theconstraints that may or will limit the system's capabilities or overalldesign, and is traced to SYSFR 508 and SYSNFR 510. A Design (DES) item517 captures the high-level design of the system and is traced to UC514, CONS 516, and to Architectural Decisions (AD) 518. There may bemany-to-many relationships between DES 517 and UC 514, CONS 516 and AD518. AD 518 captures the decision items that influence the designoutcome.

Risk and Issues (RSK) requirement 520 captures risks and theirtreatment, and is traced to Mitigation requirements 522, which capturesmitigation strategies necessary to address identified risks. Test Plan(TST) requirements 524 are traced to UC requirements 514.

8. Computer System

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a computer system included in the system ofFIG. 1 and that implements the process of FIG. 2, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. Computer system 102 generallycomprises a central processing unit (CPU) 602, a memory 604, aninput/output (I/O) interface 606, and a bus 608. Further, computersystem 102 is coupled to I/O devices 610 and a computer data storageunit 612. CPU 602 performs computation and control functions of computersystem 102. CPU 602 may comprise a single processing unit, or bedistributed across one or more processing units in one or more locations(e.g., on a client and server).

Memory 604 may comprise any known computer readable storage medium,which is described below. In one embodiment, cache memory elements ofmemory 604 provide temporary storage of at least some program code(e.g., program code 106, 106, 108, 110 and 112) in order to reduce thenumber of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage whileinstructions of the program code are carried out. Moreover, similar toCPU 602, memory 604 may reside at a single physical location, comprisingone or more types of data storage, or be distributed across a pluralityof physical systems in various forms. Further, memory 604 can includedata distributed across, for example, a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN).

I/O interface 606 comprises any system for exchanging information to orfrom an external source. I/O devices 610 comprise any known type ofexternal device, including a display device (e.g., monitor), keyboard,mouse, printer, speakers, handheld device, facsimile, etc. Bus 608provides a communication link between each of the components in computersystem 102, and may comprise any type of transmission link, includingelectrical, optical, wireless, etc.

I/O interface 606 also allows computer system 102 to store and retrieveinformation (e.g., data or program instructions such as program code106, 108, 110 and 112) from an auxiliary storage device such as computerdata storage unit 612 or another computer data storage unit (not shown).Computer data storage unit 612 may comprise any known computer readablestorage medium, which is described below. For example, computer datastorage unit 612 may be a non-volatile data storage device, such as amagnetic disk drive (i.e., hard disk drive) or an optical disc drive(e.g., a CD-ROM drive which receives a CD-ROM disk).

Memory 604 may store computer program code 106, 108, 110 and 112 thatprovides the logic for automatically deploying an application or ITsystem instance, and/or for determining an impact of a proposed changeto an application or IT system instance prior to the deployment of theproposed change. Further, memory 604 may include other systems not shownin FIG. 6, such as an operating system (e.g., Linux) that runs on CPU602 and provides control of various components within and/or connectedto computer system 102.

Storage unit 612 and/or one or more other computer data storage units(not shown) that are coupled to computer system 102 may store thesoftware source library 114 (see FIG. 1) and the infrastructure run timesource library 116 (see FIG. 1).

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present inventionmay be embodied as a system, method or computer program product.Accordingly, an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention maytake the form of an entirely hardware aspect, an entirely softwareaspect (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anaspect combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “module”. Furthermore, an embodiment of thepresent invention may take the form of a computer program productembodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) (e.g., memory 604and/or computer data storage unit 612) having computer readable programcode (e.g., program code 106, 108, 110 and 112) embodied or storedthereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) (e.g., memory604 and computer data storage unit 612) may be utilized. The computerreadable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computerreadable storage medium. In one embodiment the computer readable storagemedium is a computer readable storage device or computer readablestorage apparatus. A computer readable storage medium may be, forexample, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared or semiconductor system, apparatus, device orany suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of morespecific examples of the computer-readable storage medium includes: anelectrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computerdiskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or anysuitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document,a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that cancontain or store a program (e.g., program 106, 108, 110 and 112) for useby or in connection with a system, apparatus, or device for carrying outinstructions.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electromagnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with asystem, apparatus, or device for carrying out instructions.

Program code (e.g., program code 106, 108, 110 and 112) embodied on acomputer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriatemedium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fibercable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code (e.g., program code 106, 108, 110 and 112) forcarrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may bewritten in any combination of one or more programming languages,including an object oriented programming language such as Java®,Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. Instructions of the program code may be carried out entirelyon a user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server, where theaforementioned user's computer, remote computer and server may be, forexample, computer system 102 or another computer system (not shown)having components analogous to the components of computer system 102included in FIG. 6. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through any type of network (notshown), including a LAN or a WAN, or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (e.g., through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations (e.g., FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) and/or block diagramsof methods, apparatus (systems) (e.g., FIG. 1 and FIG. 6), and computerprogram products according to embodiments of the invention. It will beunderstood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or blockdiagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrationsand/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer programinstructions (e.g., program code 106, 108, 110 and 112). These computerprogram instructions may be provided to a processor (e.g., CPU 602) of ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions, which are carried out via the processor of thecomputer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create meansfor implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/orblock diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium (e.g., memory 604 or computer data storage unit 612)that can direct a computer (e.g., computer system 102), otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function ina particular manner, such that the instructions (e.g., program 106, 108,110 and 112) stored in the computer readable medium produce an articleof manufacture including instructions which implement the function/actspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer(e.g., computer system 102), other programmable data processingapparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to beperformed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or otherdevices to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions (e.g., program 106, 108, 110 and 112) which are carried outon the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other devices provideprocesses for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

Any of the components of an embodiment of the present invention can bedeployed, managed, serviced, etc. by a service provider that offers todeploy or integrate computing infrastructure with respect to the processof automatically deploying an application or IT system instance, and/ordetermining an impact of a proposed change to an application or ITsystem instance prior to the deployment of the proposed change. Thus, anembodiment of the present invention discloses a process for supportingcomputer infrastructure, wherein the process comprises providing atleast one support service for at least one of integrating, hosting,maintaining and deploying computer-readable code (e.g., program code106, 108, 110 and 112) in a computer system (e.g., computer system 102in FIG. 6) comprising a processor, wherein the processor carries outinstructions contained in the code causing the computer system toperform a method of automatically deploying an application or IT systeminstance, and/or determining an impact of a proposed change to anapplication or IT system instance prior to the deployment of theproposed change.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method thatperforms the process steps of the invention on a subscription,advertising and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider, such as aSolution Integrator, can offer to create, maintain, support, etc. aprocess of automatically deploying an application or IT system instance,and/or determining an impact of a proposed change to an application orIT system instance prior to the deployment of the proposed change. Inthis case, the service provider can create, maintain, support, etc. acomputer infrastructure that performs the process steps of the inventionfor one or more customers. In return, the service provider can receivepayment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement,and/or the service provider can receive payment from the sale ofadvertising content to one or more third parties.

The flowcharts in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 and the block diagrams in FIG. 1 andFIG. 6 illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation ofpossible implementations of systems, methods, and computer programproducts according to various embodiments of the present invention. Inthis regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may representa module, segment, or portion of code (e.g., program code 106, 108, 110and 112), which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be performed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be performed in reverse order,depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted thateach block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustrations, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

While embodiments of the present invention have been described hereinfor purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claimsare intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

1. A computer-implemented method of automatically deploying aninformation technology (IT) system instance having hardware and softwarecomponents, said method comprising: a computer system generating anapplication model of said software components based on use casesassociated with a plurality of requirements that includes functional andnon-functional requirements of said IT system instance, wherein saidgenerating said application model includes representing said softwarecomponents in a software component modeling language; said computersystem generating an infrastructure model based on said applicationmodel, wherein said generating said infrastructure model includesrepresenting said hardware components in said software componentmodeling language; said computer system generating a computer file in amarkup language, wherein said computer file includes a design of said ITsystem instance, and further includes first instructions for accessingfirst assets stored in an infrastructure runtime source library andsecond instructions for accessing second assets stored in a softwaresource library, and wherein said first assets specify said hardwarecomponents and said second assets specify said software components; andsaid computer system exporting said computer file in said markuplanguage to a deployment tool, wherein a result of said exporting saidcomputer file to said deployment tool is an automatic deployment of saidIT system instance based on carrying out said first and secondinstructions included in said computer file to access said first andsecond assets stored in said infrastructure runtime source library andsaid software source library, respectively.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein said design of said IT system instance is a single system modelthat links said infrastructure model and said application model based onsaid software component modeling language representing said hardwarecomponents of said infrastructure model and said software components ofsaid application model.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:said computer system receiving a change to a functional ornon-functional requirement; prior to an initiation of said automaticdeployment of said IT system instance, said computer system determiningan update to said design of said IT system instance based on said changeto said functional or non-functional requirement, and based on saidsoftware component modeling language being used to represent saidhardware components and said software components and being used to linksaid hardware and software components to said functional andnon-functional requirements; and prior to said initiation of saidautomatic deployment of said IT system instance and subsequent to saiddetermining said update to said design of said IT system instance, saidcomputer system determining a cost of deploying said IT system instancebased on said update to said design of said IT system instance.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said generating said infrastructure modelfurther includes generating a Unified Modeling Language (UML) model ofan infrastructure required to implement said IT system instance, saidinfrastructure including said hardware components, wherein said UMLmodel of said infrastructure includes: a first node that represents aninstantiation of a first physical device required in saidinfrastructure; a second node that represents an instantiation of asecond physical device required in said infrastructure; a first artifactthat represents one or more hardware specifications of said firstphysical device; a second artifact that represents a software packagerequired to be installed on said first physical device; one or moreattributes that provide information about a configuration of said firstnode, said second node, said first artifact or said second artifact; acommunication path that represents a connectivity between said first andsecond nodes and indicates a communication protocol required for saidconnectivity; association lines that indicate that said first and secondartifacts are part of said first node; a deployment specification thatrepresents a security zone or a location of said infrastructure; and anexecution environment that represents an operating system or a bundle ofsoftware packages represented by artifacts of said UML model.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said software component modeling language isUnified Modeling Language (UML), and wherein said generating saidcomputer file in said markup language includes generating said computerfile in Extensible Markup Language (XML) based on said UML providing adirect mapping of said infrastructure model to XML via XML MetadataInterchange (XMI).
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said exporting saidcomputer file includes exporting said computer file in XML to saiddeployment tool, wherein a result of said exporting said computer fileis an interpretation of said computer file by said deployment tool viaan XML interface.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said method furthercomprises, prior to said generating said infrastructure model: saidcomputer system generating one or more other infrastructure models thatrepresent said hardware components; and said computer system storing, insaid infrastructure runtime source library, said first assets asreusable assets that specify said hardware components based on saidgenerated one or more other infrastructure models, wherein saidgenerating said computer file includes retrieving said reusable assetsthat specify said hardware components from said infrastructure runtimesource library subsequent to said storing said first assets as saidreusable assets.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating saidapplication model, said generating said infrastructure model based onsaid application model, and said generating said computer file in amarkup language are performed automatically in succession without ahuman performing any intervening steps.
 9. A computer program product,comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readableprogram code stored therein, said computer readable program codecontaining instructions that are carried out by a processor of acomputer system to implement a method of automatically deploying aninformation technology (TT) system instance having hardware and softwarecomponents, said method comprising: generating an application model ofsaid software components based on use cases associated with a pluralityof requirements that includes functional and non-functional requirementsof said IT system instance, wherein said generating said applicationmodel includes representing said software components in a softwarecomponent modeling language; generating an infrastructure model based onsaid application model, wherein said generating said infrastructuremodel includes representing said hardware components in said softwarecomponent modeling language; generating a computer file in a markuplanguage, wherein said computer file includes a design of said IT systeminstance, and further includes first instructions for accessing firstassets stored in an infrastructure runtime source library and secondinstructions for accessing second assets stored in a software sourcelibrary, and wherein said first assets specify said hardware componentsand said second assets specify said software components; and exportingsaid computer file in said markup language to a deployment tool, whereina result of said exporting said computer file to said deployment tool isan automatic deployment of said IT system instance based on carrying outsaid first and second instructions included in said computer file toaccess said first and second assets stored in said infrastructureruntime source library and said software source library, respectively.10. The program product of claim 9, wherein said design of said ITsystem instance is a single system model that links said infrastructuremodel and said application model based on said software componentmodeling language representing said hardware components of saidinfrastructure model and said software components of said applicationmodel.
 11. The program product of claim 9, wherein said method furthercomprises: said computer system receiving a change to a functional ornon-functional requirement; prior to an initiation of said automaticdeployment of said IT system instance, determining an update to saiddesign of said IT system instance based on said change to saidfunctional or non-functional requirement, and based on said softwarecomponent modeling language being used to represent said hardwarecomponents and said software components and being used to link saidhardware and software components to said functional and non-functionalrequirements; and prior to said initiation of said automatic deploymentof said IT system instance and subsequent to said determining saidupdate to said design of said IT system instance, determining a cost ofdeploying said IT system instance based on said update to said design ofsaid IT system instance.
 12. The program product of claim 9, whereinsaid generating said infrastructure model further includes generating aUnified Modeling Language (UML) model of an infrastructure required toimplement said IT system instance, said infrastructure including saidhardware components, wherein said UML model of said infrastructureincludes: a first node that represents an instantiation of a firstphysical device required in said infrastructure; a second node thatrepresents an instantiation of a second physical device required in saidinfrastructure; a first artifact that represents one or more hardwarespecifications of said first physical device; a second artifact thatrepresents a software package required to be installed on said firstphysical device; one or more attributes that provide information about aconfiguration of said first node, said second node, said first artifactor said second artifact; a communication path that represents aconnectivity between said first and second nodes and indicates acommunication protocol required for said connectivity; association linesthat indicate that said first and second artifacts are part of saidfirst node; a deployment specification that represents a security zoneor a location of said infrastructure; and an execution environment thatrepresents an operating system or a bundle of software packagesrepresented by artifacts of said UML model.
 13. The program product ofclaim 9, wherein said software component modeling language is UnifiedModeling Language (UML), and wherein said generating said computer filein said markup language includes generating said computer file inExtensible Markup Language (XML) based on said UML providing a directmapping of said infrastructure model to XML via XML Metadata Interchange(XMI).
 14. The program product of claim 13, wherein said exporting saidcomputer file includes exporting said computer file in XML to saiddeployment tool, wherein a result of said exporting said computer fileis an interpretation of said computer file by said deployment tool viaan XML interface.
 15. The program product of claim 9, wherein saidmethod further comprises, prior to said generating said infrastructuremodel: generating one or more other infrastructure models that representsaid hardware components; and storing, in said infrastructure runtimesource library, said first assets as reusable assets that specify saidhardware components based on said generated one or more otherinfrastructure models, wherein said generating said computer fileincludes retrieving said reusable assets that specify said hardwarecomponents from said infrastructure runtime source library subsequent tosaid storing said first assets as said reusable assets.
 16. The programproduct of claim 9, wherein said generating said application model, saidgenerating said infrastructure model based on said application model,and said generating said computer file in a markup language areperformed automatically in succession without a human performing anyintervening steps.
 17. A process for supporting computinginfrastructure, said process comprising providing at least one supportservice for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining,and deploying computer-readable code in a computer system comprising aprocessor, wherein said processor carries out instructions contained insaid code causing said computer system to perform a method ofautomatically deploying an information technology (IT) system instancehaving hardware and software components, wherein said method comprises:said computer system generating an application model of said softwarecomponents based on use cases associated with a plurality ofrequirements that includes functional and non-functional requirements ofsaid IT system instance, wherein said generating said application modelincludes representing said software components in a software componentmodeling language; said computer system generating an infrastructuremodel based on said application model, wherein said generating saidinfrastructure model includes representing said hardware components insaid software component modeling language; said computer systemgenerating a computer file in a markup language, wherein said computerfile includes a design of said IT system instance, and further includesfirst instructions for accessing first assets stored in aninfrastructure runtime source library and second instructions foraccessing second assets stored in a software source library, and whereinsaid first assets specify said hardware components and said secondassets specify said software components; and said computer systemexporting said computer file in said markup language to a deploymenttool, wherein a result of said exporting said computer file to saiddeployment tool is an automatic deployment of said IT system instancebased on carrying out said first and second instructions included insaid computer file to access said first and second assets stored in saidinfrastructure runtime source library and said software source library,respectively.
 18. The process of claim 17, wherein said design of saidIT system instance is a single system model that links saidinfrastructure model and said application model based on said softwarecomponent modeling language representing said hardware components ofsaid infrastructure model and said software components of saidapplication model.
 19. The process of claim 17, wherein said methodfurther comprises: said computer system receiving a change to afunctional or non-functional requirement; prior to an initiation of saidautomatic deployment of said IT system instance, determining an updateto said design of said IT system instance based on said change to saidfunctional or non-functional requirement, and based on said softwarecomponent modeling language being used to represent said hardwarecomponents and said software components and being used to link saidhardware and software components to said functional and non-functionalrequirements; and prior to said initiation of said automatic deploymentof said IT system instance and subsequent to said determining saidupdate to said design of said IT system instance, determining a cost ofdeploying said IT system instance based on said update to said design ofsaid IT system instance.
 20. The process of claim 17, wherein saidgenerating said infrastructure model further includes generating aUnified Modeling Language (UML) model of an infrastructure required toimplement said IT system instance, said infrastructure including saidhardware components, wherein said UML model of said infrastructureincludes: a first node that represents an instantiation of a firstphysical device required in said infrastructure; a second node thatrepresents an instantiation of a second physical device required in saidinfrastructure; a first artifact that represents one or more hardwarespecifications of said first physical device; a second artifact thatrepresents a software package required to be installed on said firstphysical device; one or more attributes that provide information about aconfiguration of said first node, said second node, said first artifactor said second artifact; a communication path that represents aconnectivity between said first and second nodes and indicates acommunication protocol required for said connectivity; association linesthat indicate that said first and second artifacts are part of saidfirst node; a deployment specification that represents a security zoneor a location of said infrastructure; and an execution environment thatrepresents an operating system or a bundle of software packagesrepresented by artifacts of said UML model.
 21. A computer-implementedmethod of modeling a proposed change to an information technology (IT)system instance prior to deploying said IT system instance having saidproposed change, said method comprising: subsequent to an identificationof a first system model of said IT system instance as a first baselineof said IT system instance and a subsequent identification by aconfiguration management system of a first change deployed in said ITsystem instance, said computer system receiving an indication of saidfirst change exported from said configuration management system;subsequent to said receiving said indication of said first changedeployed in said IT system instance, said computer system updating saidfirst system model of said IT system instance to a second system modelthat includes said first change and exporting a computer file in amarkup language to said configuration management system, wherein saidcomputer file includes said second system model that includes said firstchange, and wherein a result of said exporting said computer file is anidentification of said second system model as an updated baseline ofsaid IT system instance by said configuration management system; andsubsequent to said exporting said computer file that includes saidsecond system model that includes said first change, said computersystem receiving and modeling said proposed change to said IT systeminstance prior to a deployment of said IT system instance having saidproposed change, wherein said modeling said proposed change is based onsaid updated baseline of said IT system instance rather than said firstbaseline of said IT system instance.
 22. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: prior to an initiation of an automatic deployment of said ITsystem instance having said proposed change, said computer systemdetermining an update of said second system model to a third systemmodel based on said proposed change; and prior to said initiation ofsaid automatic deployment of said IT system instance having saidproposed change and subsequent to said determining said update of saidsecond system model to said third system model, said computer systemdetermining a cost of deploying said IT system instance based on saidupdate of said second system model to said third system model.
 23. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising providing at least one supportservice for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining,and deploying computer-readable code in said computer system comprisinga processor, wherein said processor carries out instructions containedin said code causing said computer system to perform a method ofreceiving said indication of said first change exported from saidconfiguration management system, said updating said first system modelof said IT system instance to said second system model, and saidreceiving and modeling said proposed change to said IT system instance.24. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable storagemedium having a computer readable program code stored therein, saidcomputer readable program code containing instructions that are carriedout by a processor of a computer system to implement a method ofmodeling a proposed change to an information technology (IT) systeminstance prior to deploying said IT system instance having said proposedchange, said method comprising: subsequent to an identification of afirst system model of said IT system instance as a first baseline ofsaid IT system instance and a subsequent identification by aconfiguration management system of a first change deployed in said ITsystem instance, receiving an indication of said first change exportedfrom said configuration management system; subsequent to said receivingsaid indication of said first change deployed in said IT systeminstance, updating said first system model of said IT system instance toa second system model that includes said first change and exporting acomputer file in a markup language to said configuration managementsystem, wherein said computer file includes said second system modelthat includes said first change, and wherein a result of said exportingsaid computer file is an identification of said second system model asan updated baseline of said IT system instance by said configurationmanagement system; and subsequent to said exporting said computer filethat includes said second system model that includes said first change,receiving and modeling said proposed change to said IT system instanceprior to a deployment of said IT system instance having said proposedchange, wherein said modeling said proposed change is based on saidupdated baseline of said IT system instance rather than said firstbaseline of said IT system instance.
 25. The program product of claim24, wherein said method further comprises: prior to an initiation of anautomatic deployment of said IT system instance having said proposedchange, determining an update of said second system model to a thirdsystem model based on said proposed change; and prior to said initiationof said automatic deployment of said IT system instance having saidproposed change and subsequent to said determining said update of saidsecond system model to said third system model, determining a cost ofdeploying said IT system instance based on said update of said secondsystem model to said third system model.